Tourist attractions Chicago

Museums and art

1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. USA - Chicago, IL 60605

This world-class natural history institution occupies a suitably grand place at the south end of Grant Park. Nine acres of exhibit halls and over 20 million artifacts occupy the vast Neoclassical edifice where collections, exhibits and public program..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

USA - Chicago, IL 60602

Affectionately called the Bean, the gate (by sculptor Anish Kapoor) will draw you like a moth to flame. The gleaming "kidney bean" of stainless steel creates fantastic reflections of the city skyline and the crowds. Step under it for an eff..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

USA - Chicago, IL 60606

Looming large along the lakefront, Chicago's busy Loop and its environs have been fertile grounds for architectural innovation since the fire in 1871. Named for the elevated tracks that girdle them, these blocks bustle with workday energy as Chicagoa..

Industrial tourism and theme park

1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. USA - Chicago, IL 60605

Hard by Lake Michigan, the Shedd is the world's largest indoor aquarium. It houses some 8,000 aquatic animals comprising 650 species from around the globe—from tiny, jewel-like spiny lobsters to 1,500-pound beluga whales. The Shedd's exhibits and pro..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

875 N. Michigan Ave. USA - Chicago, IL 60611

Muscular and monumental, nothing represents Chicago ("the city of big shoulders") more than this 1,127ft skyscraper (1969). It's the third-tallest building in Chicago, the fourth-tallest in the US and, because of its huge cross-bracing stel..

Industrial tourism and theme park

2200 N. Cannon Dr. USA - Chicago, IL 60614

In addition to its wonderful penguin and bird houses, bear and cat habitats and sea lion pool, this accessible zoo replicates animal environments and presents activities designed to encourage the animals' natural behaviors. Worth a special stop is th..

Museums and art

111 S. Michigan Ave. USA - Chicago, IL 60603

The AIC is one of the great museums of the world and the preeminent arts institution of the Midwest. Its collections span 5,000 years and draw on the cultures of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, and its collection of Impressionist and post-Impr..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

430 S. Michigan Ave. USA - Chicago, IL 60805

The granddaddy of Chicago's historic theaters, this classic venue, which opened in 1889, makes for theatergoing at its best. Its fine acoustics and lovely, renovated spaces are a delight. Programming varies from local dance troupes such as the Joffre..

Museums and art

57th St.. at S. Lake Shore Dr USA - Chicago, IL 60637

This noisy hall of wonders and widgets is one of Chicago's most popular attractions. Dedicated to presenting science, industry and technology in an entertaining way, the museum's hands-on displays invite visitors to push, pull, compute and enjoy expl..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

USA - Chicago, IL 60602

Crowned by a metallic proscenium arch designed by Frank Gehry, Pritzker Pavilion is the scene of free summertime concerts. The "waterproof" lawn is a great place to bring a picnic. The theater accommodates 4,000 in fixed seats and 7,000 on ..

Nature and gardens

USA - Chicago, IL 60602

Despite some grumbling about its cost when it opened in 2004, Millennium Park is among the city's nicest assets. Its 24.5 acres are filled with something to see at every turn. With architectural elements designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, pl..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

233 S. Wacker Dr. USA - Chicago, IL 60606

Tallest building in the world for over 20 years, this 110-story feat of engineering cuts an unmistakable profile on the city's skyline. Though its formal name changed from the Sears Tower to Willis Tower in 2009, the structure still holds the title o..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

USA - Chicago, IL 60611

This promenade along North Michigan Avenue, from the Chicago River north to Oak Street, is the city's most prestigious thoroughfare, blooming with plantings in the summer and twinkling with holiday lights all winter. Lined with exclusive boutiques an..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

1800 1800 S. Prairie Ave. USA - Chicago, IL 60616

Cornerstone of the Prairie Avenue Historic District, Glessner House was designed for a wealthy farm-implement manufacturer by Henry Hobson Richardson in 1886. The house revolutionized domestic American architecture with its open floor plan and unador..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

Astor St. USA - Chicago, IL 60610

Quaint graystones with delicate wrought-iron railings and miniature front gardens characterize Chicago's historic Astor Street, in the Gold Coast. The street was named for John Jacob Astor, whos American Fur Co. traded in the area before the settleme..

Nature and gardens

1000 Lake Cook Rd USA - Glencoe, IL 60022

With 26 garden areas, more than a million individual plants of 7,000 different varieties and a host of bird life, the 385-acre preserve makes a lovely stop at any time of year. The heart of the garden occupies the largest of nine islands in a 60-acre..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

USA - Chicago, IL 60601

Architectural "bad boy" Helmut Jahn, known for bucking accepted trends, designed this State of Illinois facility to resemble the domes you're used to seeing on government buildings. Though quirky, the shape makes possible the soaring atrium..

Architecture, castles and historic districts

11111 S. Forrestville Ave. USA - Chicago, IL 60628

This grandiose structure exhibits a picturesque roofline with dormers above red brick walls, a wide Eastlake-style verandah and a Joliet limestone foundation. Wooden trim is painted in the color scheme seen throughout Pullman, which combines maroon a..

Industrial tourism and theme park

8400 W. 31st St USA - Brookfield, IL 60513

If you have a day to spend, it's worth the jaunt to this suburban zoo. Its 216 acres fan out around a central fountain, and 15 miles of footpaths wind through the lovely grounds. The zoo's exhibit highlights include Seven Seas with its dolphin presen..